Have you been tempted to take Reuben backpacking yet? I’ve just done the Pennine Way with my dog, and backpacked with her for some of the nights. It can be hard work when the weather is not idyllic, but overall I found it great fun and very satisfying! I plan to hopefully do loads more with her!

Hi Chrissie. I have been thinking about taking Reuben out for a backpack, I have ordered a tarp for us to sleep under – no muddy paws in the tent then! It arrives at end of August so hope to get out in Sept with him. But only when the weather is good!

If you’re interested at all in what I’ve learnt so far and the equipment I’ve used for my Dixie, you can have a look at our little blog – not particularly well written I know, but lots of photos and I’ve got an equipment list which obviously includes what I take for my super-boxer!

Dixie looks pretty content camping! Looking happy curled up in the tent. I have the same one for when backpacking with two people so could have a bash at using it with Reuben. I will also take a bit of cut down mat and he has a ‘jacket’ that he could use for sleeping in. A lightweight blanket could also be draped over him at night.

Reuben does struggle on those hot days, pants like mad. I save his long days out on the hills for when it is cooler. I tried to leave a comment on your blog but it would not let me without registering, which is a shame.

It’s a shame you couldn’t leave a comment – maybe that’s why I haven’t got many! It’s interesting you mention a lightweight blanket. Since my last update on my blog, I was searching through my old gear for inspiration for something lighter than the sleeping bag for Dixie, and I found an old, lightweight, fleece sleeping bag liner. I’ve since cut this up and edged it into a large oblong shape, and then turned it into a kind of dog ‘cape’ by draping it over Dixie and putting a small fastening just underneath her neck. This will fit over her jacket and act as a blanket, but will hopefully not fall off her when she changes position in the middle of the night. I’ll try and get a photo of it in the next couple of days and add it to our blog, and I’ll let you know how she finds it next time we’re out. (It won’t be till September as we’re off to the Pyrenees this week for three weeks – unfortunately we can’t take the dogs with us as they only got their pet passports a few weeks ago and their 6 month ‘wait’ won’t be up till December.)

If I was taking the lab backpacking I don’t think she’d need a blanket but would just manage with her jacket – she has fur like a bear!

And you’re right, Dixie loves camping. The very first night I tried her in the tent, I had to practically drag her in, but by the second night she couldn’t wait! In fact, I have to stake her out with a tent peg now whenever I’m putting the tent up, as she keeps trying to get in it before it’s done!

I know there are lighter tents than the Ultralight Voyager, but it’s not bad for carrying on your own, is it? In fact the whole thing weighs less than ‘half’ the first Mountain Equipment backpacking tent we used to use 20 years ago!